Stats for macOS: System Requirements and Installation Options

Stats runs on any Mac with macOS 12 (Monterey) or later, on both Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3 and later) and Intel hardware. You can install it two ways: download the app directly from mac-stats.com (the site lists v3.0.21), or install it with Homebrew. Both routes give you the same free, open-source menu bar monitor — there is no paid tier to unlock the monitoring features described on the site.

System requirements at a glance

The site also notes 7 years of active development, 42.5k GitHub stars, and translation into 41 languages — useful signals if you're weighing whether the project is actively maintained before you commit.

Option 1: Direct download

1. Go to mac-stats.com and use the Download for Mac button.
2. Open the downloaded file and move Stats into your Applications folder.
3. Launch Stats. On first run, macOS will likely ask you to approve the app (and, for sensor readings, may prompt for additional permissions).
4. Open the menu bar item and enable the modules you want — CPU, GPU, RAM, Disk, Sensors, Network, Battery, Bluetooth, or Clock.

Expected result: the widgets you enabled appear in the menu bar and update live. If a module shows no data (sensors and fan speeds are the usual suspects), check that you granted the permissions the app requested.

Option 2: Homebrew

If you already manage apps with Homebrew, install Stats from the terminal instead of downloading manually. The site states Homebrew is a supported install method; check the project's Homebrew formula or GitHub page for the exact command, since the site excerpt doesn't spell it out. The practical benefit is that updates arrive through brew upgrade alongside your other packages.

Expected result: Stats appears in your Applications folder and launches the same way as the direct download.

What you get once installed

Stats places a full system monitor in the menu bar rather than requiring you to open Activity Monitor. Per the site, it covers:

• CPU — real-time load, frequency, temperature, and a live list of the most demanding processes
• GPU — utilization, memory, and temperature across Intel, AMD, and Apple Silicon graphics
• RAM — memory pressure, used/free memory, swap, and top memory-consuming apps
• Disk — free/used space, read/write activity, and SMART health per drive
• Sensors — temperature, voltage, power, and fan-speed readings
• Network — upload/download speeds, total data usage, local and public IP addresses
• Battery — charge level, health, cycle count, time remaining, and power source
• Bluetooth — battery levels of connected keyboards, mice, and headphones
• Clock — customizable clock and calendar with multiple time zones

Each module can be displayed as a chart, number, gauge, or dot, and you can combine, reorder, and color widgets to fit your menu bar. That flexibility is the main reason to pick Stats over a fixed-display monitor — the site positions it as a free alternative to iStat Menus.

Common snags

• macOS too old: if you're on macOS 11 or earlier, the current release won't run; you'd need a newer macOS or an older Stats version.
• Missing sensor or fan data: these readings depend on hardware support and permissions. If they stay blank, revisit the app's permission prompts before assuming a bug.
• Menu bar clutter: with 13 widget styles across 9 modules, it's easy to overfill the bar. Start with CPU, RAM, and Network, then add modules as needed.

Is it the right choice for you?

Choose Stats if you want a free, open-source, highly customizable menu bar monitor and your Mac is on macOS 12 or later. If you prefer managed updates, use Homebrew; if you want the simplest path, use the direct download. If you need a monitor on an older macOS release, verify version support on the project's GitHub page before installing.